Max Verstappen finished sixth in sprint qualifying at Losail after severe bouncing and persistent understeer left the RB21 beyond his control. Yuki Tsunoda beat him for the first time in a qualifying format, adding pressure before the sprint.
Four cars drop to the pit lane, Tsunoda starts ahead of Verstappen, and teams lean toward a medium-tyre sprint as clear skies set the tone for the night race.
Oscar Piastri topped the only practice session in Qatar, while Red Bull failed to extract performance from the soft tyres. Max Verstappen placed sixth and Yuki Tsunoda fell to thirteenth after traffic and poor sector one execution.
Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin does not need more senior figures despite speculation around Christian Horner. His comments reflect trust in the current leadership and concern that Adrian Newey must be allowed to focus on the work that actually moves performance forward.
Yuki Tsunoda heads into the Qatar Grand Prix with his future at Red Bull still uncertain, admitting he has “no plan B” and hinting that “most people probably know” where things stand. With Red Bull expected to finalise its 2026 line-up after the weekend, Qatar may be Tsunoda’s final chance to secure his seat.
Max Verstappen says he is “all in” for the final stretch of the 2025 season as he aims to overturn Lando Norris’s 24-point lead and claim a fifth straight F1 title. With 58 points remaining, the Red Bull driver is prepared for an “all-out battle” after a strong late-season comeback.
Williams team principal James Vowles will stay in Abu Dhabi after the 2025 F1 finale to compete in the Gulf 12 Hours, driving a McLaren 720S GT3 Evo with Garage 59. It marks his first return to racing since becoming team boss and follows previous outings in the 2022 Asian Le Mans Series.
Aston Martin has appointed Adrian Newey as team principal from 2026, reshaping the structure ahead of the Honda works partnership. Andy Cowell moves into a new Chief Strategy Officer role as the team aligns its leadership to Newey’s vision.
